☕️ Morning! It's Wednesday, and we're drinking an extra cup of coffee after a late night tracking election results.

Today's weather: Mostly sunny with storms possible. High of 80.

🎧 Sounds like: "Yes We Can Can" by Allen Toussaint.

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Today’s newsletter is 984 words — a 3.5-minute read.

Julia Letlow, a Republican serving her third term in the U.S. House, was elected Louisiana's newest senator, the AP projected.

Why it matters: Letlow's victory, once viewed as an easy W for the GOP, came down to the wire after her opponent, Tensas Parish farmer Jamie Davis, ran a lively, grassroots campaign.

The big picture: While some Republicans distanced themselves from President Trump this cycle, Letlow embraced his endorsement and thanked him for his support in a victory speech last night.

• Meanwhile, Davis energized Louisiana Democrats despite receiving little attention or financial support from the national party.

The intrigue: The closeness of the race raises questions about whether national Democrats missed an opportunity in Louisiana even while flipping Senate and House seats elsewhere.

• "This was a bad night for [Gov.] Jeff Landry," WWL political commentator Clancy DuBos said yesterday. Endorsements from both Landry and Trump, DuBos added, "should have gotten [Letlow] 60% of the vote against an unknown Black Democrat."

Meanwhile, the AP projected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R) would easily keep their seats, but with the broader balance of power in the House tilted to Democrats, their influence will face a change come January.

• Rep. Troy Carter (D) was also reelected for his fourth term, the AP projected. He reportedly looks to lead the Congressional Black Caucus next term.

Statewide, voters also weighed in on 10 constitutional amendments, approving most, according to preliminary Secretary of State data.

• Approvals include a ban on post-conviction bail for people convicted of certain aggravated crimes against children, lifetime term limits for governor and the use of public money to replace lead water lines.

Go deeper: See the full election results from the Secretary of State.

New Orleans voters approved a charter amendment yesterday aimed at making City Hall more financially responsible.

Why it matters: The amendment, which goes into effect Jan. 1, requires departments to get council approval before spending more than their budgeted amount.

• It's part of a broader effort to prevent the kind of overspending that contributed to the city's financial crisis.

The big picture: New Orleans residents passed the measure with 61% of the vote, based on preliminary figures from the Secretary of State.

• It locks the budget after the council approves it, says City Council President JP Morrell, who proposed the amendment. Mayor Helena Moreno supported the measure.
• City Hall's finance leaders are also required to submit monthly spending reports to the council.

Zoom in: Tomorrow, council members will vote on another measure aimed at righting the city's finances — whether to increase property taxes to avoid some of the proposed layoffs and cuts to essential services.

• The measure could add $100 to $200 to the average homeowner's tax bill, depending on which property tax rates the council approves. See the calculator.
• Several council members have opposed the cuts, but they have also expressed concern about putting more financial strain on residents.

Reality check: The city will still have to make about $50 million in cuts, even if the council passes the property tax proposal, says Andrew Tuozzolo, the mayor's special counsel.

• The mayor laid out her preference for which cuts she'd like to restore with the property tax revenues, but council members have the ultimate say.
• The council agrees with prioritizing funding for the low-barrier shelter and post-Mardi Gras cleanup, budget chair Lesli Harris says, "but there are some other priorities that we're sorting through."

What's next: They'll vote Nov. 19 on the final budget.

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🏨 The Fairmont is officially open, marking the brand's return to New Orleans after 20 years. (Press release)

• Emeril Lagasse has two restaurants inside: Delmonico Steakhouse and The Café by Emeril.
• The hotel also has Third Measure, a late-night cocktail bar developed in partnership with Neal Bodenheimer of Cure.

🆕 Other new spots:

• Inka, a Peruvian restaurant, is in the former Johnny Sanchez location on Poydras.
• Congregation Coffee and Espresso are in the Quarter.
• Daughter's Italian, from Mia and Justin Devillier of La Petite Grocery, opens Friday in the former Upperline space.
• Tsang's Dim Sum opens Nov. 16 next to Whole Foods on Magazine.
• More recent openings.

🦃 Parkway's Thanksgiving poboy returns today. It's available only on Wednesdays this month and raises money for the Al Copeland Foundation. (Details)

🧑‍🔬 Bill Nye the Science Guy stopped at reader Cayman Clevenger's gallery on Julia Street. (Instagram)

Louisiana has the most flu activity in the country, according to the latest CDC data.

The big picture: The state has high activity, while the rest of the country is mostly reporting minimal and low activity as of Oct. 24, the CDC says.

• Louisiana has a 10.9% positivity rate for the flu, compared with a 7.6% national average.
• Louisiana has had one flu-related death this season, the state health department says.
• Flu-related emergency room visits are also on the rise.

Zoom in: Flu season is ramping up earlier in Louisiana than last year, based on state health department data.

• Last season, flu cases climbed steadily before peaking in January.

Zoom out: COVID and RSV cases remain low in Louisiana, LDH says.

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👥 Carlie's polling location ran out of Terrance Osborne's "I Voted" stickers, but a kind poll worker still found one for her son.

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Happy birthday to our editor Jen Burkett!